In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts

In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts
of the capital, including areas that had never before been
touched by flood waters. The flooding claimed many lives and
crippled the capital for days.

Thousands of people had to spend nights in their vehicles or
in roadside shelters because the roads to their homes were
underwater.

Now, one year later, we are again entering February and heavy
rains are expected. The peak of the rainy season for Greater
Jakarta is expected to be in February.

Gunawan Ibrahim, head of the Meteorology and Geophysics
Agency, has warned people to be alert as the soil will not be
able to absorb excessive rain water. He said preparation and
precaution are necessary to anticipate the flooding.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta

Bush, candy and the war

The drum of war has yet to be beaten, but President George W.
Bush's speech in front of Congress clearly gave the impression
that his ambition is to hit Iraq.

Bush stuck to his promise to disarm Iraq -- especially of its
weapons of mass destruction. Bush promised to send Secretary of
State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council on Feb. 5 to reveal
what he described as evidence of Iraqi defiance to disarm.

"If Saddam Hussein does not disarm, for the sake of our
people's security and world peace, we will lead a coalition to
disarm him," Bush said to warm applause from Congress.

Unilateralism will likely be the choice of the U.S. But this
choice is not only about Iraq and Saddam, but also to many bigger
issues. The choice is against multilateralism, which respects
other states' and nations' concerns.

Isn't there any other way to settle the Iraqi crisis besides
war? Unfortunately, Bush did not gave any signal that he would
back down. He said he would distribute "candies" to win the
support of American communities, through his promise to improve
the country's economy and health services.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta

The boss behind bars

An inmate can control his business from his jail cell. It is
strange but true, as demonstrated by Innocent Iwuofor, a Nigerian
national jailed at Tangerang Penitentiary for drug charges.

Ino, as he is known, began his jail term in 2000. To the
surprise of the police, he continued to control and organize his
drug operation behind bars over a cellular phone, one of several
items prohibited to convicts.

The penitentiary warden, Radja Grand S., said the cellular
phone had been "smuggled in" by a visitor. The warden can make
excuses but the bottom line is that the penitentiary's screening
of visitors is very lax.

It would come as no surprise to learn that many penitentiary
employees are unscrupulous. There have been several reports of
special privileges for certain convicts. It is not surprising
that some "special" convicts are allowed to leave the prison at
night, while other convicts have their own TV sets in their
cells. Special treatment for certain convicts is not new for
penitentiary employees.

What is the meaning of jail if a convict is still able to run
his or her business; the same business that put them in jail in
the first place?

The key to solving this problem is cooperation among law
enforcement institutions.

The police, prosecutor's office, the courts and other
institutions dealing with law enforcement must improve their
cooperation, or some inmates will continue to receive special
privileges by bribing officials.

If inmates can buy the law, we all will suffer because crime
will continue to spread throughout the country.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta